Iliad

Brave Menelaos son of Atreus now came to know that Patroklos had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armor to bestride him. As a cow stands lowing over her first calf, even so did yellow-haired Menelaos bestride Patroklos. He held his round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute to kill any who should dare face him. But the son of Panthoos had also noted the body, and came up to Menelaos saying, "Menelaos, son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the bloodstained spoils be. I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroklos, let me, therefore, have my full glory [ kleos ] among the Trojans, or I will take aim and kill you."

οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

Πάτροκλος Τρώεσσι δαμεὶς ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ βαῖνʼ ὥς τις περὶ πόρτακι μήτηρ

πρωτοτόκος κινυρὴ οὐ πρὶν εἰδυῖα τόκοιο·

ὣς περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βαῖνε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

πρόσθε δέ οἱ δόρυ τʼ ἔσχε καὶ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,

τὸν κτάμεναι μεμαὼς ὅς τις τοῦ γʼ ἀντίος ἔλθοι.

οὐδʼ ἄρα Πάνθου υἱὸς ἐϋμμελίης ἀμέλησε

Πατρόκλοιο πεσόντος ἀμύμονος· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ

ἔστη, καὶ προσέειπεν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον·

Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄρχαμε λαῶν

χάζεο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρόν, ἔα δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·

οὐ γάρ τις πρότερος Τρώων κλειτῶν τʼ ἐπικούρων

Πάτροκλον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην·

τώ με ἔα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρέσθαι,

μή σε βάλω, ἀπὸ δὲ μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἕλωμαι.

To this Menelaos answered in great anger "By father Zeus, boasting is an ill thing. The pard is not more bold, nor the lion nor savage wild-boar, which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures, than are the proud sons of Panthoos. Yet Hyperenor did not see out the days of his youth when he made light of me and withstood me, deeming me the meanest warrior among the Danaans. His own feet never bore him back to gladden his wife and parents. Even so shall I make an end of you too, if you withstand me; get you back into the crowd and do not face me, or it shall be worse for you. Even a fool may be wise after the event."

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ μὲν καλὸν ὑπέρβιον εὐχετάασθαι.

οὔτʼ οὖν παρδάλιος τόσσον μένος οὔτε λέοντος

οὔτε συὸς κάπρου ὀλοόφρονος, οὗ τε μέγιστος

θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι περὶ σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,

ὅσσον Πάνθου υἷες ἐϋμμελίαι φρονέουσιν.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίη Ὑπερήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο

ἧς ἥβης ἀπόνηθʼ, ὅτε μʼ ὤνατο καί μʼ ὑπέμεινε

καί μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν Δαναοῖσιν ἐλέγχιστον πολεμιστὴν

ἔμμεναι· οὐδέ ἕ φημι πόδεσσί γε οἷσι κιόντα

εὐφρῆναι ἄλοχόν τε φίλην κεδνούς τε τοκῆας.

ὥς θην καὶ σὸν ἐγὼ λύσω μένος εἴ κέ μευ ἄντα

στήῃς· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω

ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο

πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὐ πεῖθεν· ἀμειβόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

Euphorbos would not listen, and said, "Now indeed, Menelaos, shall you pay for the death of my brother over whom you vaunted, and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber, while you brought grief [penthos] unspeakable on his parents. I shall comfort these poor people if I bring your head and armor and place them in the hands of Panthoos and noble Phrontis. The time is come when this matter shall be fought out in a struggle [ ponos ] and settled, for me or against me."

νῦν μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἦ μάλα τείσεις

γνωτὸν ἐμὸν τὸν ἔπεφνες, ἐπευχόμενος δʼ ἀγορεύεις,

χήρωσας δὲ γυναῖκα μυχῷ θαλάμοιο νέοιο,

ἀρητὸν δὲ τοκεῦσι γόον καὶ πένθος ἔθηκας.

ἦ κέ σφιν δειλοῖσι γόου κατάπαυμα γενοίμην

εἴ κεν ἐγὼ κεφαλήν τε τεὴν καὶ τεύχεʼ ἐνείκας

Πάνθῳ ἐν χείρεσσι βάλω καὶ Φρόντιδι δίῃ.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ἔτι δηρὸν ἀπείρητος πόνος ἔσται

οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀδήριτος ἤτʼ ἀλκῆς ἤτε φόβοιο.

As he spoke he struck Menelaos full on the shield, but the spear did not go through, for the shield turned its point. Menelaos then took aim, praying to father Zeus as he did so; Euphorbos was drawing back, and Menelaos struck him about the roots of his throat, leaning his whole weight on the spear, so as to drive it home. The point went clean through his neck, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. His locks of hair, so deftly bound in bands of silver and gold, were all bedrabbled with flecks of blood, which looked like myrtle-blossoms [ kharites ]. As one who has grown a fine young olive tree in a clear space where there is abundance of water - the plant is full of promise, and though the winds beat upon it from every quarter it puts forth its white blossoms till the blasts of some fierce wind sweep down upon it and level it with the ground - even so did Menelaos strip the fair youth Euphorbos of his armor after he had slain him. Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is feeding - first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws, and then gorges on her blood and entrails; dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry against him, but they stand aloof and will not come close to him, for they are pale with fear - even so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaos. The son of Atreus would have then carried off the armor of the son of Panthoos with ease, had not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes chief of the Kikones incited Hektor to attack him. "Hektor," said he, "you are now going after the horses of the noble son of Aiakos, but you will not take them; they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother. Meanwhile Menelaos son of Atreus has bestridden the body of Patroklos and killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphorbos son of Panthoos, so that he can fight no more."

ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·

οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ

ἀσπίδʼ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·

ἂψ δʼ ἀναχαζομένοιο κατὰ στομάχοιο θέμεθλα

νύξʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας·

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή,

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

αἵματί οἱ δεύοντο κόμαι Χαρίτεσσιν ὁμοῖαι

πλοχμοί θʼ, οἳ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἐσφήκωντο.

οἷον δὲ τρέφει ἔρνος ἀνὴρ ἐριθηλὲς ἐλαίης

χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, ὅθʼ ἅλις ἀναβέβροχεν ὕδωρ,

καλὸν τηλεθάον· τὸ δέ τε πνοιαὶ δονέουσι

παντοίων ἀνέμων, καί τε βρύει ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ·

ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξαπίνης ἄνεμος σὺν λαίλαπι πολλῇ

βόθρου τʼ ἐξέστρεψε καὶ ἐξετάνυσσʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ·

τοῖον Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐϋμμελίην Εὔφορβον

Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπεὶ κτάνε τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼς

βοσκομένης ἀγέλης βοῦν ἁρπάσῃ ἥ τις ἀρίστη·

τῆς δʼ ἐξ αὐχένʼ ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσι

πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θʼ αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσει

δῃῶν· ἀμφὶ δὲ τόν γε κύνες τʼ ἄνδρές τε νομῆες

πολλὰ μάλʼ ἰύζουσιν ἀπόπροθεν οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσιν

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι· μάλα γὰρ χλωρὸν δέος αἱρεῖ·

ὣς τῶν οὔ τινι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐτόλμα

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

ἔνθά κε ῥεῖα φέροι κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πανθοΐδαο

Ἀτρεΐδης, εἰ μή οἱ ἀγάσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ὅς ῥά οἱ Ἕκτορʼ ἐπῶρσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ

ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος Κικόνων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ·

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἕκτορ νῦν σὺ μὲν ὧδε θέεις ἀκίχητα διώκων

ἵππους Αἰακίδαο δαΐφρονος· οἳ δʼ ἀλεγεινοὶ

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδʼ ὀχέεσθαι

ἄλλῳ γʼ ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.

τόφρα δέ τοι Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος Ἀτρέος υἱὸς

Πατρόκλῳ περιβὰς Τρώων τὸν ἄριστον ἔπεφνε

Πανθοΐδην Εὔφορβον, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

The god then went back into the toil [ ponos ] and turmoil, but the soul of Hektor was darkened with a cloud of grief [ akhos ]; he looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbos lying on the ground with the blood still flowing from his wound, and Menelaos stripping him of his armor. On this he made his way to the front like a flame of fire, clad in his gleaming armor, and crying with a loud voice. When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to himself in his dismay, "Alas! what shall I do? I may not let the Trojans take the armor of Patroklos who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Danaan who sees me should cry shame upon me. Still if for the sake of my honor [ timê ] I fight Hektor and the Trojans single-handed, they will prove too many for me, for Hektor is bringing them up in force. Why, however, should I thus hesitate? When a man, opposing the will of a daimôn , fights with one whom a god befriends, he will soon rue it. Let no Danaan think ill of me if I give place to Hektor, for the hand of heaven gives him honor [ timê ]. Yet, if I could find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hektor and any daimôn too, if we might only save the body of Patroklos for Achilles son of Peleus. This, of many evils, would be the least."

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,

Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·

πάπτηνεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ στίχας, αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω

τὸν μὲν ἀπαινύμενον κλυτὰ τεύχεα, τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

κείμενον· ἔρρει δʼ αἷμα κατʼ οὐταμένην ὠτειλήν.

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ

ὀξέα κεκλήγων φλογὶ εἴκελος Ἡφαίστοιο

ἀσβέστῳ· οὐδʼ υἱὸν λάθεν Ἀτρέος ὀξὺ βοήσας·

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·

ὤ μοι ἐγὼν εἰ μέν κε λίπω κάτα τεύχεα καλὰ

Πάτροκλόν θʼ, ὃς κεῖται ἐμῆς ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδε τιμῆς,

μή τίς μοι Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται.

εἰ δέ κεν Ἕκτορι μοῦνος ἐὼν καὶ Τρωσὶ μάχωμαι

αἰδεσθείς, μή πώς με περιστήωσʼ ἕνα πολλοί·

Τρῶας δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντας ἄγει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;

ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃ πρὸς δαίμονα φωτὶ μάχεσθαι

ὅν κε θεὸς τιμᾷ, τάχα οἱ μέγα πῆμα κυλίσθη.

τώ μʼ οὔ τις Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται

Ἕκτορι χωρήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐκ θεόφιν πολεμίζει.

εἰ δέ που Αἴαντός γε βοὴν ἀγαθοῖο πυθοίμην,

ἄμφω κʼ αὖτις ἰόντες ἐπιμνησαίμεθα χάρμης

καὶ πρὸς δαίμονά περ, εἴ πως ἐρυσαίμεθα νεκρὸν

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· κακῶν δέ κε φέρτατον εἴη.

While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with Hektor at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body, turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks sulkily off - even so did Menelaos son of Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroklos. When among the body of his men, he looked around for mighty Ajax son of Telamon, and presently saw him on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his men and exhorting them to keep on fighting,

εἷος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὅρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρὸν

ἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,

ὅν ῥα κύνες τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο δίωνται

ἔγχεσι καὶ φωνῇ· τοῦ δʼ ἐν φρεσὶν ἄλκιμον ἦτορ

παχνοῦται, ἀέκων δέ τʼ ἔβη ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο·

ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθεὶς ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων

παπταίνων Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.

τὸν δὲ μάλʼ αἶψʼ ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ πάσης

θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι·

for Phoebus Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran up to him and said, "Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroklos, if so be that we may take the body to Achilles - as for his armor, Hektor already has it."

θεσπέσιον γάρ σφιν φόβον ἔμβαλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·

βῆ δὲ θέειν, εἶθαρ δὲ παριστάμενος ἔπος ηὔδα.

Αἶαν δεῦρο πέπον, περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος

σπεύσομεν, αἴ κε νέκυν περ Ἀχιλλῆϊ προφέρωμεν

These words stirred the heart of Ajax, and he made his way among the front ranks, Menelaos going with him. Hektor had stripped Patroklos of his armor, and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the body to fling before the dogs of Troy . But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hektor withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his chariot, giving the armor over to the Trojans to take to the city, as a great glory [ kleos ] for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered the body of Patroklos with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a lion stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with his little ones - in the pride and fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down till they cover his eyes - even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroklos, and by his side stood Menelaos son of Atreus, nursing great sorrow [penthos] in his heart.

γυμνόν· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἴαντι δὲ δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινε·

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων, ἅμα δὲ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

Ἕκτωρ μὲν Πάτροκλον ἐπεὶ κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἀπηύρα,

ἕλχʼ ἵνʼ ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν κεφαλὴν τάμοι ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

τὸν δὲ νέκυν Τρῳῇσιν ἐρυσσάμενος κυσὶ δοίη.

Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἂψ ἐς ὅμιλον ἰὼν ἀνεχάζεθʼ ἑταίρων,

ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε· δίδου δʼ ὅ γε τεύχεα καλὰ

Τρωσὶ φέρειν προτὶ ἄστυ, μέγα κλέος ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.

Αἴας δʼ ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ σάκος εὐρὺ καλύψας

ἑστήκει ὥς τίς τε λέων περὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν,

ᾧ ῥά τε νήπιʼ ἄγοντι συναντήσωνται ἐν ὕλῃ

ἄνδρες ἐπακτῆρες· ὃ δέ τε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,

πᾶν δέ τʼ ἐπισκύνιον κάτω ἕλκεται ὄσσε καλύπτων·

ὣς Αἴας περὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει.

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

ἑστήκει, μέγα πένθος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀέξων.

Then Glaukos son of Hippolokhos looked fiercely at Hektor and rebuked him sternly. "Hektor," said he, "you make a brave show, but in fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself has no claim to so great a glory [ kleos ]. Think how you may now save your town and citadel by the hands of your own people born in Ilion ; for you will get no Lycians to fight for you, seeing what thanks they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you likely, sir, to do anything to help a man of less note, after leaving Sarpedon, who was at once your guest and comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of the Danaans? So long as he lived he did good service [ kharis ] both to your city and yourself; yet you had no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If the Lycians will listen to me, they will go home and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which lays hold of men who are engaging in the struggle [ ponos ] for their land and harassing those who would attack it,

Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν

Ἕκτορʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·

Ἕκτορ εἶδος ἄριστε μάχης ἄρα πολλὸν ἐδεύεο.

ἦ σʼ αὔτως κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἔχει φύξηλιν ἐόντα.

φράζεο νῦν ὅππως κε πόλιν καὶ ἄστυ σαώσῃς

οἶος σὺν λαοῖς τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν·

οὐ γάρ τις Λυκίων γε μαχησόμενος Δαναοῖσιν

εἶσι περὶ πτόλιος, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρα τις χάρις ἦεν

μάρνασθαι δηΐοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσι νωλεμὲς αἰεί.

πῶς κε σὺ χείρονα φῶτα σαώσειας μεθʼ ὅμιλον

σχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ Σαρπηδόνʼ ἅμα ξεῖνον καὶ ἑταῖρον

κάλλιπες Ἀργείοισιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,

ὅς τοι πόλλʼ ὄφελος γένετο πτόλεΐ τε καὶ αὐτῷ

ζωὸς ἐών· νῦν δʼ οὔ οἱ ἀλαλκέμεναι κύνας ἔτλης.

τὼ νῦν εἴ τις ἐμοὶ Λυκίων ἐπιπείσεται ἀνδρῶν

οἴκαδʼ ἴμεν, Τροίῃ δὲ πεφήσεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

εἰ γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνείη

we should soon bear off Patroklos into Ilion . Could we get this dead man away and bring him into the city of Priam, the Argives would readily give up the armor of Sarpedon, and we should get his body to boot. For he whose squire [ therapôn ] has been now killed is the foremost man at the ships of the Achaeans - he and his close-fighting followers [ therapontes ]. Nevertheless you dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him, eye to eye, with battle all round you, for he is a braver man than you are."

ἄτρομον, οἷόν τʼ ἄνδρας ἐσέρχεται οἳ περὶ πάτρης

ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πόνον καὶ δῆριν ἔθεντο,

αἶψά κε Πάτροκλον ἐρυσαίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω.

εἰ δʼ οὗτος προτὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

ἔλθοι τεθνηὼς καί μιν ἐρυσαίμεθα χάρμης,

αἶψά κεν Ἀργεῖοι Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰ

λύσειαν, καί κʼ αὐτὸν ἀγοίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω·

τοίου γὰρ θεράπων πέφατʼ ἀνέρος, ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος

Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ Αἴαντος μεγαλήτορος οὐκ ἐτάλασσας

στήμεναι ἄντα κατʼ ὄσσε ἰδὼν δηΐων ἐν ἀϋτῇ,

οὐδʼ ἰθὺς μαχέσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σέο φέρτερός ἐστι.

Hektor scowled at him and answered, "Glaukos, you should know better. I have held you so far as a man of more understanding than any in all Lycia , but now I despise you for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I fear neither battle nor the din of chariots, but Zeus' will [ noos ] is stronger than ours; Zeus at one time makes even a strong man draw back and snatches victory from his grasp, while at another he will set him on to fight. Come hither then, my friend, stand by me and see indeed whether I shall play the coward the whole day through as you say, or whether I shall not stay some even of the boldest Danaans from fighting round the body of Patroklos."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὲ σὺ τοῖος ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπες;

ὢ πόποι ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην σὲ περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων

τῶν ὅσσοι Λυκίην ἐριβώλακα ναιετάουσι·

νῦν δέ σευ ὠνοσάμην πάγχυ φρένας οἷον ἔειπες,

ὅς τέ με φῂς Αἴαντα πελώριον οὐχ ὑπομεῖναι.

οὔ τοι ἐγὼν ἔρριγα μάχην οὐδὲ κτύπον ἵππων·

ἀλλʼ αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος αἰγιόχοιο,

ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκην

ῥηϊδίως, ὁτὲ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,

ἠὲ πανημέριος κακὸς ἔσσομαι, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

ἦ τινα καὶ Δαναῶν ἀλκῆς μάλα περ μεμαῶτα

σχήσω ἀμυνέμεναι περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.

As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, be men, my friends, and fight might and main, while I put on the goodly armor of Achilles, which I took when I killed Patroklos."

ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταί,

ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔντεα δύω

καλά, τὰ Πατρόκλοιο βίην ἐνάριξα κατακτάς.

With this Hektor left the fight, and ran full speed after his men who were taking the armor of Achilles to Troy , but had not yet got far. Standing for a while apart from the woeful fight, he changed his armor. His own he sent to the strong city of Ilion and to the Trojans, while he put on the immortal armor of the son of Peleus, which the gods had given to Peleus, who in his age gave it to his son; but the son did not grow old in his father's armor.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο· θέων δʼ ἐκίχανεν ἑταίρους

ὦκα μάλʼ οὔ πω τῆλε ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπών,

οἳ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.

στὰς δʼ ἀπάνευθε μάχης πολυδακρύου ἔντεʼ ἄμειβεν·

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν τὰ ἃ δῶκε φέρειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴν

Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δῦνε

Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἅ οἱ θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες

πατρὶ φίλῳ ἔπορον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα ᾧ παιδὶ ὄπασσε

γηράς· ἀλλʼ οὐχ υἱὸς ἐν ἔντεσι πατρὸς ἐγήρα.

When Zeus, lord of the storm-cloud, saw Hektor standing aloof and arming himself in the armor of the son of Peleus, he wagged his head and muttered to himself saying, "A! poor wretch, you arm in the armor of a hero, before whom many another trembles, and you reck nothing of the doom that is already close upon you. You have killed his comrade so brave and strong, but it was not according to the order [ kosmos ] of things that you should strip the armor from his head and shoulders. I do indeed endow you with great might now, but as against this you shall not return from battle to lay the armor of the son of Peleus before Andromache."

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἀπάνευθεν ἴδεν νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς

τεύχεσι Πηλεΐδαο κορυσσόμενον θείοιο,

κινήσας ῥα κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·

ἆ δείλʼ οὐδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιός ἐστιν

ὃς δή τοι σχεδὸν εἶσι· σὺ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δύνεις

ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος, τόν τε τρομέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι·

τοῦ δὴ ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνες ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε,

τεύχεα δʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων

εἵλευ· ἀτάρ τοι νῦν γε μέγα κράτος ἐγγυαλίξω,

τῶν ποινὴν ὅ τοι οὔ τι μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντι

δέξεται Ἀνδρομάχη κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.

The son of Kronos bowed his portentous brows, and Hektor fitted the armor to his body, while terrible Ares entered into him, and filled his whole body with might and valor. With a shout he strode in among the allies, and his armor flashed about him so that he seemed to all of them like the great son of Peleus himself. He went about among them and cheered them on - Mesthles, Glaukos, Medon, Thersilokhos, Asteropaios, Deisenor and Hippothoos, Phorkys, Chromios, and Ennomos the augur. All these did he exhort saying, "Hear me, allies from other cities who are here in your thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about me that I called you hither each from his several city, but that with heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans. For this do I oppress my people with your food and the presents that make you rich. Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war; whoever shall bring Patroklos, dead though he be, into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other. He will thus share like honor [ kleos ] with myself."

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων.

Ἕκτορι δʼ ἥρμοσε τεύχεʼ ἐπὶ χροΐ, δῦ δέ μιν Ἄρης

δεινὸς ἐνυάλιος, πλῆσθεν δʼ ἄρα οἱ μέλεʼ ἐντὸς

ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος· μετὰ δὲ κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους

βῆ ῥα μέγα ἰάχων· ἰνδάλλετο δέ σφισι πᾶσι

τεύχεσι λαμπόμενος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.

ὄτρυνεν δὲ ἕκαστον ἐποιχόμενος ἐπέεσσι

Μέσθλην τε Γλαῦκόν τε Μέδοντά τε Θερσίλοχόν τε

Ἀστεροπαῖόν τε Δεισήνορά θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε

Φόρκυν τε Χρομίον τε καὶ Ἔννομον οἰωνιστήν·

τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

κέκλυτε μυρία φῦλα περικτιόνων ἐπικούρων·

οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ πληθὺν διζήμενος οὐδὲ χατίζων

ἐνθάδʼ ἀφʼ ὑμετέρων πολίων ἤγειρα ἕκαστον,

ἀλλʼ ἵνα μοι Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα

προφρονέως ῥύοισθε φιλοπτολέμων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

τὰ φρονέων δώροισι κατατρύχω καὶ ἐδωδῇ

λαούς, ὑμέτερον δὲ ἑκάστου θυμὸν ἀέξω.

τώ τις νῦν ἰθὺς τετραμμένος ἢ ἀπολέσθω

ἠὲ σαωθήτω· ἣ γὰρ πολέμου ὀαριστύς.

ὃς δέ κε Πάτροκλον καὶ τεθνηῶτά περ ἔμπης

Τρῶας ἐς ἱπποδάμους ἐρύσῃ, εἴξῃ δέ οἱ Αἴας,

ἥμισυ τῷ ἐνάρων ἀποδάσσομαι, ἥμισυ δʼ αὐτὸς

ἕξω ἐγώ· τὸ δέ οἱ κλέος ἔσσεται ὅσσον ἐμοί περ.

When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans with their spears held out before them, and the hopes of each ran high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the body - fools that they were, for he was about to take the lives of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaos, "My good friend Menelaos, you and I shall hardly come out of this fight alive. I am less concerned for the body of Patroklos,

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν βρίσαντες ἔβησαν

δούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

νεκρὸν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος ἐρύειν Τελαμωνιάδαο

νήπιοι· ἦ τε πολέσσιν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·

ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς οὐκέτι νῶϊ

ἔλπομαι αὐτώ περ νοστησέμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο.

who will shortly become meat for the dogs and vultures of Troy , than for the safety of my own head and yours. Hektor has wrapped us round in a storm of battle from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain. Call then upon the princes of the Danaans if there is any who can hear us."

οὔ τι τόσον νέκυος περιδείδια Πατρόκλοιο,

ὅς κε τάχα Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνούς,

ὅσσον ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ περιδείδια μή τι πάθῃσι,

καὶ σῇ, ἐπεὶ πολέμοιο νέφος περὶ πάντα καλύπτει

Ἕκτωρ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν κάλει, ἤν τις ἀκούσῃ.

Menelaos did as he said, and shouted to the Danaans for help at the top of his voice. "My friends," he cried, "princes and counselors of the Argives, all you who with Agamemnon and Menelaos drink at the public cost, and give orders each to his own people as Zeus grants him power and honor [ timê ], the fight is so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you severally; come on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame that Patroklos should become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

οἵ τε παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

δήμια πίνουσιν καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἕκαστος

λαοῖς· ἐκ δὲ Διὸς τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ.

ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστον

ἡγεμόνων· τόσση γὰρ ἔρις πολέμοιο δέδηεν·

ἀλλά τις αὐτὸς ἴτω, νεμεσιζέσθω δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

Πάτροκλον Τρῳῇσι κυσὶν μέλπηθρα γενέσθαι.

Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way through the fight and run to help him. Next came Idomeneus and Meriones his esquire, peer of murderous Ares. As for the others that came into the fight after these, who of his own self could name them?

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὀξὺ δʼ ἄκουσεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·

πρῶτος δʼ ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα,

τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος

Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων τίς κεν ᾗσι φρεσὶν οὐνόματʼ εἴποι,

ὅσσοι δὴ μετόπισθε μάχην ἤγειραν Ἀχαιῶν;

The Trojans with Hektor at their head charged in a body. As a great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven-born river, and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of the breakers that beat and buffet them - even with such a roar did the Trojans come on; but the Achaeans in singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoitios, and fenced him with their bronze shields. Zeus, moreover, hid the brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the son of Menoitios while he was still alive and squire [ therapôn ] to the descendant of Aiakos; therefore he was loath to let him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend him.

Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προχοῇσι διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

βέβρυχεν μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ῥόον, ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἄκραι

ἠϊόνες βοόωσιν ἐρευγομένης ἁλὸς ἔξω,

τόσσῃ ἄρα Τρῶες ἰαχῇ ἴσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες

φραχθέντες σάκεσιν χαλκήρεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφι

λαμπρῇσιν κορύθεσσι Κρονίων ἠέρα πολλὴν

χεῦʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ Μενοιτιάδην ἔχθαιρε πάρος γε,

ὄφρα ζωὸς ἐὼν θεράπων ἦν Αἰακίδαο·

μίσησεν δʼ ἄρα μιν δηΐων κυσὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι

Τρῳῇσιν· τὼ καί οἱ ἀμυνέμεν ὦρσεν ἑταίρους.

At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew from the dead man daunted. The Trojans did not succeed in killing any one, nevertheless they drew the body away. But the Achaeans did not lose it long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess,

ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς·

νεκρὸν δὲ προλιπόντες ὑπέτρεσαν, οὐδέ τινʼ αὐτῶν

Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι ἕλον ἔγχεσιν ἱέμενοί περ,

ἀλλὰ νέκυν ἐρύοντο· μίνυνθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἀχαιοὶ

μέλλον ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα γάρ σφεας ὦκʼ ἐλέλιξεν

Αἴας, ὃς περὶ μὲν εἶδος, περὶ δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτο

quickly rallied them and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him - even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroklos and were most bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city. At this moment Hippothoos brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hektor and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by the foot through the press of the fight, having bound a strap round the sinews near the ankle; but a mischief soon befell him from which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so, for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his bronze-cheeked helmet. The plumed headpiece broke about the point of the weapon, struck at once by the spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the crest-socket. His strength then failed him and he let Patroklos' foot drop from his hand, as he fell full length dead upon the body; thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa, and never repaid his parents the cost of bringing him up, for his life was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hektor then took aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it; the spear passed on and struck Schedios son of noble Iphitos, leader of the Phoceans, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over many people; it struck him under the middle of the collar-bone the bronze point went right through him, coming out at the bottom of his shoulder-blade, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorkys son of Phainops in the middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothoos, and broke the plate of his cuirass; whereon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutched the ground in his palm as he fell to earth. Hektor and those who were in the front rank then gave ground, while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph, and drew off the bodies of Phorkys and Hippothoos which they stripped presently of their armor.

τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.

ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκὴν

καπρίῳ, ὅς τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσι κύνας θαλερούς τʼ αἰζηοὺς

ῥηϊδίως ἐκέδασσεν, ἑλιξάμενος διὰ βήσσας·

ὣς υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἀγαυοῦ φαίδιμος Αἴας

ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος Τρώων ἐκέδασσε φάλαγγας

οἳ περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βέβασαν, φρόνεον δὲ μάλιστα

ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύειν καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

ἤτοι τὸν Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ φαίδιμος υἱὸς

Ἱππόθοος ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

δησάμενος τελαμῶνι παρὰ σφυρὸν ἀμφὶ τένοντας

Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷ

ἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.

τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἐπαΐξας διʼ ὁμίλου

πλῆξʼ αὐτοσχεδίην κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·

ἤρικε δʼ ἱπποδάσεια κόρυς περὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ

πληγεῖσʼ ἔγχεΐ τε μεγάλῳ καὶ χειρὶ παχείῃ,

ἐγκέφαλος δὲ παρʼ αὐλὸν ἀνέδραμεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆς

αἱματόεις· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη μένος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρῶν

Πατρόκλοιο πόδα μεγαλήτορος ἧκε χαμᾶζε

κεῖσθαι· ὃ δʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο πέσε πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ

τῆλʼ ἀπὸ Λαρίσης ἐριβώλακος, οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι

θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν

ἔπλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτʼ Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

τυτθόν· ὃ δὲ Σχεδίον μεγαθύμου Ἰφίτου υἱὸν

Φωκήων ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ὃς ἐν κλειτῷ Πανοπῆϊ

οἰκία ναιετάασκε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων,

τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ κληῗδα μέσην· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἄκρη

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη παρὰ νείατον ὦμον ἀνέσχε·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

Αἴας δʼ αὖ Φόρκυνα δαΐφρονα Φαίνοπος υἱὸν

Ἱπποθόῳ περιβάντα μέσην κατὰ γαστέρα τύψε·

ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸς

ἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκροὺς

Φόρκυν θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε, λύοντο δὲ τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων.

The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilion through their own cowardice, while the Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even against the will of Zeus, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytos, an attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged father, and was at all times devoted to him. In his likeness, then, Apollo said, "Aeneas, can you not manage, even though heaven be against us, to save high Ilion ? I have known men, whose numbers, courage, and self-reliance have saved their population [ dêmos ] in spite of Zeus, whereas in this case he would much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans, if you would only fight instead of being so terribly afraid."

ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν

Ἴλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,

Ἀργεῖοι δέ κε κῦδος ἕλον καὶ ὑπὲρ Διὸς αἶσαν

κάρτεϊ καὶ σθένεϊ σφετέρῳ· ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς Ἀπόλλων

Αἰνείαν ὄτρυνε δέμας Περίφαντι ἐοικὼς

κήρυκι Ἠπυτίδῃ, ὅς οἱ παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι

κηρύσσων γήρασκε φίλα φρεσὶ μήδεα εἰδώς·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Αἰνεία πῶς ἂν καὶ ὑπὲρ θεὸν εἰρύσσαισθε

Ἴλιον αἰπεινήν; ὡς δὴ ἴδον ἀνέρας ἄλλους

κάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε πεποιθότας ἠνορέῃ τε

πλήθεΐ τε σφετέρῳ καὶ ὑπερδέα δῆμον ἔχοντας·

ἡμῖν δὲ Ζεὺς μὲν πολὺ βούλεται ἢ Δαναοῖσι

νίκην· ἀλλʼ αὐτοὶ τρεῖτʼ ἄσπετον οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἰνείας δʼ ἑκατηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα

Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted to Hektor saying, "Hektor and all other Trojans and allies, shame [ aidôs ] on us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilion through our own cowardice. A god has just come up to me and told me that Zeus the supreme disposer will be with us. Therefore let us make for the Danaans, that it may go hard with them ere they bear away dead Patroklos to the ships."

ἔγνω ἐς ἄντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε βοήσας·

Ἕκτόρ τʼ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων

αἰδὼς μὲν νῦν ἥδε γʼ ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν

Ἴλιον εἰσαναβῆναι ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντας.

ἀλλʼ ἔτι γάρ τίς φησι θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγχι παραστὰς

Ζῆνʼ ὕπατον μήστωρα μάχης ἐπιτάρροθον εἶναι·

τώ ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν ἴομεν, μηδʼ οἵ γε ἕκηλοι

Πάτροκλον νηυσὶν πελασαίατο τεθνηῶτα.

As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others, who then rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas speared Leiokritos son of Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lykomedes, and Lykomedes was moved with pity as he saw him fall; he therefore went close up, and speared Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in the liver under the midriff, so that he died; he had come from fertile Paeonia and was the best man of them all after Asteropaios. Asteropaios flew forward to avenge him and attack the Danaans, but this might no longer be,

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥα πολὺ προμάχων ἐξάλμενος ἔστη·

οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν.

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας Λειώκριτον οὔτασε δουρὶ

υἱὸν Ἀρίσβαντος Λυκομήδεος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον.

τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Λυκομήδης,

στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

καὶ βάλεν Ἱππασίδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶν

ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,

ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει,

καὶ δὲ μετʼ Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.

τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρήϊος Ἀστεροπαῖος,

ἴθυσεν δὲ καὶ ὃ πρόφρων Δαναοῖσι μάχεσθαι·

ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχε· σάκεσσι γὰρ ἔρχατο πάντῃ

inasmuch as those about Patroklos were well covered by their shields, and held their spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them strict orders that no man was either to give ground, or to stand out before the others, but all were to hold well together about the body and fight hand to hand. Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on that of the Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend and stand by one another.

ἑσταότες περὶ Πατρόκλῳ, πρὸ δὲ δούρατʼ ἔχοντο.

Αἴας γὰρ μάλα πάντας ἐπῴχετο πολλὰ κελεύων·

οὔτέ τινʼ ἐξοπίσω νεκροῦ χάζεσθαι ἀνώγει

οὔτέ τινα προμάχεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν ἔξοχον ἄλλων,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν, σχεδόθεν δὲ μάχεσθαι.

ὣς Αἴας ἐπέτελλε πελώριος, αἵματι δὲ χθὼν

δεύετο πορφυρέῳ, τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον

νεκροὶ ὁμοῦ Τρώων καὶ ὑπερμενέων ἐπικούρων

καὶ Δαναῶν· οὐδʼ οἳ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε μάχοντο,

παυρότεροι δὲ πολὺ φθίνυθον· μέμνηντο γὰρ αἰεὶ

ἀλλήλοις ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἀλεξέμεναι φόνον αἰπύν.

Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire; it seemed as though it had gone hard even with the sun and moon, for they were hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the dead son of Menoitios, whereas the other Danaans and Achaeans fought at their ease in full daylight with brilliant sunshine all round them, and there was not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountain. These last moreover would rest for a while and leave off fighting, for they were some distance apart and beyond the range of one another's weapons, whereas those who were in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle and darkness. All the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armor, but the two valiant heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilokhos, had not yet heard of the death of Patroklos, and believed him to be still alive and leading the van against the Trojans; they were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered when he sent them from the ships into battle.

ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρός, οὐδέ κε φαίης

οὔτέ ποτʼ ἠέλιον σῶν ἔμμεναι οὔτε σελήνην·

ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχοντο μάχης ἐπί θʼ ὅσσον ἄριστοι

ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ κατατεθνηῶτι.

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

εὔκηλοι πολέμιζον ὑπʼ αἰθέρι, πέπτατο δʼ αὐγὴ

ἠελίου ὀξεῖα, νέφος δʼ οὐ φαίνετο πάσης

γαίης οὐδʼ ὀρέων· μεταπαυόμενοι δὲ μάχοντο

ἀλλήλων ἀλεείνοντες βέλεα στονόεντα

πολλὸν ἀφεσταότες. τοὶ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ ἄλγεʼ ἔπασχον

ἠέρι καὶ πολέμῳ, τείροντο δὲ νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἔσαν· δύο δʼ οὔ πω φῶτε πεπύσθην

ἀνέρε κυδαλίμω Θρασυμήδης Ἀντίλοχός τε

Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος ἀμύμονος, ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντο

ζωὸν ἐνὶ πρώτῳ ὁμάδῳ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι.

τὼ δʼ ἐπιοσσομένω θάνατον καὶ φύζαν ἑταίρων

νόσφιν ἐμαρνάσθην, ἐπεὶ ὣς ἐπετέλλετο Νέστωρ

ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δὲ μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν.

Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war, and the sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs under them, and on their hands and eyes, as they fought over the squire [ therapôn ] of the fleet son of Peleus. It was as when a man gives a great ox-hide all drenched in fat to his men, and bids them stretch it; whereon they stand round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it, and it is well stretched -

τοῖς δὲ πανημερίοις ἔριδος μέγα νεῖκος ὀρώρει

ἀργαλέης· καμάτῳ δὲ καὶ ἱδρῷ νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ

γούνατά τε κνῆμαί τε πόδες θʼ ὑπένερθεν ἑκάστου

χεῖρές τʼ ὀφθαλμοί τε παλάσσετο μαρναμένοιιν

ἀμφʼ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ταύροιο βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείην

λαοῖσιν δώῃ τανύειν μεθύουσαν ἀλοιφῇ·

δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε διαστάντες τανύουσι

κυκλόσʼ, ἄφαρ δέ τε ἰκμὰς ἔβη, δύνει δέ τʼ ἀλοιφὴ

even so did the two sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but a little space - the Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Ilion , while the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships; and fierce was the fight between them. Not Ares himself the lord of hosts, nor yet Athena, even in their fullest fury could make light of such a battle.

πολλῶν ἑλκόντων, τάνυται δέ τε πᾶσα διὰ πρό·

ὣς οἵ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα νέκυν ὀλίγῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃ

εἵλκεον ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

Τρωσὶν μὲν ἐρύειν προτὶ Ἴλιον, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· περὶ δʼ αὐτοῦ μῶλος ὀρώρει

ἄγριος· οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης λαοσσόος οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνη

τόν γε ἰδοῦσʼ ὀνόσαιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα μιν χόλος ἵκοι·

Such fearful turmoil [ ponos ] of men and horses did Zeus on that day ordain round the body of Patroklos. Meanwhile Achilles did not know that he had fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way off the ships. He had no idea, therefore, that Patroklos was dead, and deemed that he would return alive as soon as he had gone close up to the gates. He knew that he was not to sack the city neither with nor without himself, for his mother had often told him this when he had sat alone with her, and she had informed him of the counsels of great Zeus. Now, however, she had not told him how great a disaster had befallen him in the death of the one who was far dearest to him of all his comrades.

τοῖον Ζεὺς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ ἵππων

ἤματι τῷ ἐτάνυσσε κακὸν πόνον· οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι

ᾔδεε Πάτροκλον τεθνηότα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

πολλὸν γὰρ ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν μάρναντο θοάων

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων· τό μιν οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ

τεθνάμεν, ἀλλὰ ζωὸν ἐνιχριμφθέντα πύλῃσιν

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τὸ ἔλπετο πάμπαν

ἐκπέρσειν πτολίεθρον ἄνευ ἕθεν, οὐδὲ σὺν αὐτῷ·

πολλάκι γὰρ τό γε μητρὸς ἐπεύθετο νόσφιν ἀκούων,

ἥ οἱ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε Διὸς μεγάλοιο νόημα.

δὴ τότε γʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπε κακὸν τόσον ὅσσον ἐτύχθη

μήτηρ, ὅττί ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.

The others still kept on charging one another round the body with their pointed spears and killing each other. Then would one say, "My friends, we can never again show our faces at the ships - better, and greatly better, that earth should open and swallow us here in this place, than that we should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off Patroklos to their city."

οἳ δʼ αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ἀκαχμένα δούρατʼ ἔχοντες

νωλεμὲς ἐγχρίμπτοντο καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·

ὦ φίλοι οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἐϋκλεὲς ἀπονέεσθαι

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ γαῖα μέλαινα

πᾶσι χάνοι· τό κεν ἧμιν ἄφαρ πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη

εἰ τοῦτον Τρώεσσι μεθήσομεν ἱπποδάμοισιν

ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύσαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying, "Friends, though we fall to a man beside this body, let none shrink from fighting." With such words did they exhort each other. They fought and fought, and an iron clank rose through the void air to the brazen vault of heaven. The horses of the descendant of Aiakos stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous Hektor.

ὣς δέ τις αὖ Τρώων μεγαθύμων αὐδήσασκεν·

ὦ φίλοι, εἰ καὶ μοῖρα παρʼ ἀνέρι τῷδε δαμῆναι

πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πώ τις ἐρωείτω πολέμοιο.

ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, μένος δʼ ὄρσασκεν ἑκάστου.

ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο, σιδήρειος δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς

χάλκεον οὐρανὸν ἷκε διʼ αἰθέρος ἀτρυγέτοιο·

ἵπποι δʼ Αἰακίδαο μάχης ἀπάνευθεν ἐόντες

κλαῖον, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα πυθέσθην ἡνιόχοιο

Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them again and again; many a time did he speak kindly to them, and many a time did he upbraid them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont , nor yet into battle among the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock still, as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man or woman, and bowed their heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer, and their noble manes drooped all wet from under the yokestraps on either side the yoke.

ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντος ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο.

ἦ μὰν Αὐτομέδων Διώρεος ἄλκιμος υἱὸς

πολλὰ μὲν ἂρ μάστιγι θοῇ ἐπεμαίετο θείνων,

πολλὰ δὲ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα, πολλὰ δʼ ἀρειῇ·

τὼ δʼ οὔτʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐπὶ πλατὺν Ἑλλήσποντον

ἠθελέτην ἰέναι οὔτʼ ἐς πόλεμον μετʼ Ἀχαιούς,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλη μένει ἔμπεδον, ἥ τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ

ἀνέρος ἑστήκῃ τεθνηότος ἠὲ γυναικός,

ὣς μένον ἀσφαλέως περικαλλέα δίφρον ἔχοντες

οὔδει ἐνισκίμψαντε καρήατα· δάκρυα δέ σφι

θερμὰ κατὰ βλεφάρων χαμάδις ῥέε μυρομένοισιν

ἡνιόχοιο πόθῳ· θαλερὴ δʼ ἐμιαίνετο χαίτη

ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν ἀμφοτέρωθεν.

The son of Kronos saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He wagged his head, and muttered to himself, saying, "Poor things, why did we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal, while you are yourselves ageless and immortal? Was it that you might share the sorrows that befall humankind? for of all creatures that live and move upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he is - still, Hektor son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I will not have it. It is enough that he should have the armor over which he vaunts so vainly. Furthermore I will give you strength of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships from battle, for I shall let the Trojans triumph still further, and go on killing till they reach the ships; whereon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the land."

μυρομένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,

κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·

ἆ δειλώ, τί σφῶϊ δόμεν Πηλῆϊ ἄνακτι

θνητῷ, ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐστὸν ἀγήρω τʼ ἀθανάτω τε;

ἦ ἵνα δυστήνοισι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ἄλγεʼ ἔχητον;

οὐ μὲν γάρ τί πού ἐστιν ὀϊζυρώτερον ἀνδρὸς

πάντων, ὅσσά τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ὑμῖν γε καὶ ἅρμασι δαιδαλέοισιν

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης ἐποχήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσω.

ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς καὶ τεύχεʼ ἔχει καὶ ἐπεύχεται αὔτως;

σφῶϊν δʼ ἐν γούνεσσι βαλῶ μένος ἠδʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ὄφρα καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα σαώσετον ἐκ πολέμοιο

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· ἔτι γάρ σφισι κῦδος ὀρέξω

κτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκωνται

δύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ·

As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans. Behind them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade, as a vulture amid a flock of geese. In and out, and here and there, full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man, for he could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone in the chariot; at last, however, a comrade, Alkimedon, son of Laerkes son of Haimon caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot. "Automedon," said he, "what god has put this folly into your heart and robbed you of your right mind, that you fight the Trojans in the front rank single-handed? He who was your comrade is slain, and Hektor plumes himself on being armed in the armor of the descendant of Aiakos."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐνέπνευσεν μένος ἠΰ.

τὼ δʼ ἀπὸ χαιτάων κονίην οὖδας δὲ βαλόντε

ῥίμφα φέρον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αὐτομέδων μάχετʼ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου

ἵπποις ἀΐσσων ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιὸς μετὰ χῆνας·

ῥέα μὲν γὰρ φεύγεσκεν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ,

ῥεῖα δʼ ἐπαΐξασκε πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀπάζων.

ἀλλʼ οὐχ ᾕρει φῶτας ὅτε σεύαιτο διώκειν·

οὐ γάρ πως ἦν οἶον ἐόνθʼ ἱερῷ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

ἔγχει ἐφορμᾶσθαι καὶ ἐπίσχειν ὠκέας ἵππους.

ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

Ἀλκιμέδων υἱὸς Λαέρκεος Αἱμονίδαο·

στῆ δʼ ὄπιθεν δίφροιο καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα προσηύδα·

Αὐτόμεδον, τίς τοί νυ θεῶν νηκερδέα βουλὴν

ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε, καὶ ἐξέλετο φρένας ἐσθλάς;

οἷον πρὸς Τρῶας μάχεαι πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ

μοῦνος· ἀτάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἀπέκτατο, τεύχεα δʼ Ἕκτωρ

αὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται Αἰακίδαο.

Automedon son of Diores answered, "Alkimedon, there is no one else who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you can, save only Patroklos - while he was alive - peer of gods in counsel. Take then the whip and reins, while I go down from the car and fight.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτομέδων προσέφη Διώρεος υἱός·

Ἀλκίμεδον τίς γάρ τοι Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ὁμοῖος

ἵππων ἀθανάτων ἐχέμεν δμῆσίν τε μένος τε,

εἰ μὴ Πάτροκλος θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος

ζωὸς ἐών; νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα

δέξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι, ὄφρα μάχωμαι.

Alkimedon sprang on to the chariot, and caught up the whip and reins, while Automedon leaped from off the car. When Hektor saw him he said to Aeneas who was near him, "Aeneas, counselor of the mail-clad Trojans, I see the steeds of the fleet son of Aiakos come into battle with weak hands to drive them. I am sure, if you think well, that we might take them; they will not dare face us if we both attack them." The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind, and the pair went right on, with their shoulders covered under shields of tough dry ox-hide, overlaid with much bronze. Chromios and Aretos went also with them, and their hearts beat high with hope that they might kill the men and capture the horses - fools that they were, for they were not to return scatheless from their meeting with Automedon, who prayed to father Zeus and was forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding. He turned to his trusty comrade Alkimedon and said, "Alkimedon, keep your horses so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt that we shall not stay Hektor son of Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind the horses; he will then either spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans, or himself be killed among the foremost."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀλκιμέδων δὲ βοηθόον ἅρμʼ ἐπορούσας

καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν,

Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἀπόρουσε· νόησε δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

αὐτίκα δʼ Αἰνείαν προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·

Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων

ἵππω τώδʼ ἐνόησα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

ἐς πόλεμον προφανέντε σὺν ἡνιόχοισι κακοῖσι·

τώ κεν ἐελποίμην αἱρησέμεν, εἰ σύ γε θυμῷ

σῷ ἐθέλεις, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐφορμηθέντε γε νῶϊ

τλαῖεν ἐναντίβιον στάντες μαχέσασθαι Ἄρηϊ.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο.

τὼ δʼ ἰθὺς βήτην βοέῃς εἰλυμένω ὤμους

αὔῃσι στερεῇσι· πολὺς δʼ ἐπελήλατο χαλκός.

τοῖσι δʼ ἅμα Χρομίος τε καὶ Ἄρητος θεοειδὴς

ἤϊσαν ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

αὐτώ τε κτενέειν ἐλάαν τʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους

νήπιοι, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἀναιμωτί γε νέεσθαι

αὖτις ἀπʼ Αὐτομέδοντος. ὃ δʼ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ

ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος πλῆτο φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·

αὐτίκα δʼ Ἀλκιμέδοντα προσηύδα πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·

Ἀλκίμεδον μὴ δή μοι ἀπόπροθεν ἰσχέμεν ἵππους,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμπνείοντε μεταφρένῳ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μένεος σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω,

πρίν γʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος καλλίτριχε βήμεναι ἵππω

νῶϊ κατακτείναντα, φοβῆσαί τε στίχας ἀνδρῶν

Ἀργείων, ἤ κʼ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισιν ἁλοίη.

On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaos, "Ajaxes leaders of the Argives, and Menelaos, give the dead body over to them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living; for Hektor and Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war. Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of heaven, I will therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to Zeus."

ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντε καλέσσατο καὶ Μενέλαον·

Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε καὶ Μενέλαε

ἤτοι μὲν τὸν νεκρὸν ἐπιτράπεθʼ οἵ περ ἄριστοι

ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν καὶ ἀμύνεσθαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν,

νῶϊν δὲ ζωοῖσιν ἀμύνετε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ·

τῇδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν πόλεμον κάτα δακρυόεντα

Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας θʼ, οἳ Τρώων εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.

He poised and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the round shield of Aretos, and went right through it for the shield stayed it not, so that it was driven through his belt into the lower part of his belly. As when some sturdy youth, axe in hand, deals his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the back of its neck so that it springs forward and then drops, even so did Aretos give one bound and then fall on his back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of him. Hektor then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Ares robbed it of its force. They would then have fought hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling, and parted them for all their fury - for Hektor, Aeneas, and Chromios were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretos to lie there struck to the heart. Automedon, peer of fleet Ares, then stripped him of his armor and vaunted over him saying, "I have done little to assuage my sorrow [ akhos ] for the son of Menoitios, for the man I have killed is not so good as he was."

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·

ἥσω γὰρ καὶ ἐγώ, τὰ δέ κεν Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Ἀρήτοιο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·

ἣ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,

νειαίρῃ δʼ ἐν γαστρὶ διὰ ζωστῆρος ἔλασσεν.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ὀξὺν ἔχων πέλεκυν αἰζήϊος ἀνὴρ

κόψας ἐξόπιθεν κεράων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο

ἶνα τάμῃ διὰ πᾶσαν, ὃ δὲ προθορὼν ἐρίπῃσιν,

ὣς ἄρʼ ὅ γε προθορὼν πέσεν ὕπτιος· ἐν δέ οἱ ἔγχος

νηδυίοισι μάλʼ ὀξὺ κραδαινόμενον λύε γυῖα.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ Αὐτομέδοντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·

πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δʼ ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν

οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δʼ οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη

ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης.

καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμηθήτην

εἰ μή σφωʼ Αἴαντε διέκριναν μεμαῶτε,

οἵ ῥʼ ἦλθον καθʼ ὅμιλον ἑταίρου κικλήσκοντος·

τοὺς ὑποταρβήσαντες ἐχώρησαν πάλιν αὖτις

Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας τʼ ἠδὲ Χρομίος θεοειδής,

Ἄρητον δὲ κατʼ αὖθι λίπον δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ

κείμενον· Αὐτομέδων δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

ἦ δὴ μὰν ὀλίγον γε Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος

κῆρ ἄχεος μεθέηκα χερείονά περ καταπέφνων.

As he spoke he took the blood-stained spoils and laid them upon his chariot; then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐς δίφρον ἑλὼν ἔναρα βροτόεντα

θῆκʼ, ἂν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔβαινε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν

αἱματόεις ὥς τίς τε λέων κατὰ ταῦρον ἐδηδώς.

And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroklos, for Athena came down from heaven and roused its fury by the command of far-seeing Zeus, who had changed his mind [ noos ] and sent her to encourage the Danaans. As when Zeus bends his bright bow in heaven in token to humankind either of war or of the chill storms that stay men from their labor and plague the flocks - even so,

ἂψ δʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ τέτατο κρατερὴ ὑσμίνη

ἀργαλέη πολύδακρυς, ἔγειρε δὲ νεῖκος Ἀθήνη

οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· προῆκε γὰρ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

ὀρνύμεναι Δαναούς· δὴ γὰρ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτοῦ.

ἠΰτε πορφυρέην ἶριν θνητοῖσι τανύσσῃ

Ζεὺς ἐξ οὐρανόθεν τέρας ἔμμεναι ἢ πολέμοιο

ἢ καὶ χειμῶνος δυσθαλπέος, ὅς ῥά τε ἔργων

wrapped in such radiant raiment, did Athena go in among the host and speak man by man to each. First she took the form and voice of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaos son of Atreus, who was standing near her. "Menelaos," said she, "it will be shame and dishonor to you, if dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy . Therefore be staunch, and urge your men to be so also."

ἀνθρώπους ἀνέπαυσεν ἐπὶ χθονί, μῆλα δὲ κήδει,

ὣς ἣ πορφυρέῃ νεφέλῃ πυκάσασα ἓ αὐτὴν

δύσετʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἔθνος, ἔγειρε δὲ φῶτα ἕκαστον.

πρῶτον δʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἐποτρύνουσα προσηύδα

ἴφθιμον Μενέλαον· ὃ γάρ ῥά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦεν·

εἰσαμένη Φοίνικι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν·

σοὶ μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος

ἔσσεται εἴ κʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἀγαυοῦ πιστὸν ἑταῖρον

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων ταχέες κύνες ἑλκήσουσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

Menelaos answered, "Phoenix, my good old friend, may Athena grant me strength and keep the darts from off me, for so shall I stand by Patroklos and defend him; his death has gone to my heart, but Hektor is as a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing, for Zeus is now granting him a time of triumph."

Φοῖνιξ ἄττα γεραιὲ παλαιγενές, εἰ γὰρ Ἀθήνη

δοίη κάρτος ἐμοί, βελέων δʼ ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν·

τώ κεν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν

Πατρόκλῳ· μάλα γάρ με θανὼν ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν.

ἀλλʼ Ἕκτωρ πυρὸς αἰνὸν ἔχει μένος, οὐδʼ ἀπολήγει

χαλκῷ δηϊόων· τῷ γὰρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.

Athena was pleased at his having named herself before any of the other gods. Therefore she put strength into his knees and shoulders, and made him as bold as a fly, which, though driven off will yet come again and bite if it can, so dearly does it love man's blood- even so bold as this did she make him as he stood over Patroklos and threw his spear. Now there was among the Trojans a man named Podes, son of Eetion, who was both rich and valiant. Hektor held him in the highest honor in the district [ dêmos ], for he was his comrade and boon companion; the spear of Menelaos struck this man in the belt just as he had turned in flight, and went right through him. Whereon he fell heavily forward, and Menelaos son of Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into the ranks of his own people.

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

ὅττί ῥά οἱ πάμπρωτα θεῶν ἠρήσατο πάντων.

ἐν δὲ βίην ὤμοισι καὶ ἐν γούνεσσιν ἔθηκε,

καί οἱ μυίης θάρσος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐνῆκεν,

ἥ τε καὶ ἐργομένη μάλα περ χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο

ἰσχανάᾳ δακέειν, λαρόν τέ οἱ αἷμʼ ἀνθρώπου·

τοίου μιν θάρσευς πλῆσε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας,

βῆ δʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

ἔσκε δʼ ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι Ποδῆς υἱὸς Ἠετίωνος

ἀφνειός τʼ ἀγαθός τε· μάλιστα δέ μιν τίεν Ἕκτωρ

δήμου, ἐπεί οἱ ἑταῖρος ἔην φίλος εἰλαπιναστής·

τόν ῥα κατὰ ζωστῆρα βάλε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος

ἀΐξαντα φόβον δέ, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ἀτὰρ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος

νεκρὸν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ἔρυσεν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων.

Apollo then went up to Hektor and spurred him on to fight, in the likeness of Phainops son of Asios who lived in Abydos and was the most favored of all Hektor's guests. In his likeness Apollo said, "Hektor, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you have quailed before Menelaos who has ever been rated poorly as a warrior? Yet he has now got a corpse away from the Trojans single-handed, and has slain your own true comrade, a man brave among the foremost, Podes son of Eetion.

Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἱστάμενος ὄτρυνεν Ἀπόλλων

Φαίνοπι Ἀσιάδῃ ἐναλίγκιος, ὅς οἱ ἁπάντων

ξείνων φίλτατος ἔσκεν Ἀβυδόθι οἰκία ναίων·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορ τίς κέ σʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ταρβήσειεν;

οἷον δὴ Μενέλαον ὑπέτρεσας, ὃς τὸ πάρος γε

μαλθακὸς αἰχμητής· νῦν δʼ οἴχεται οἶος ἀείρας

νεκρὸν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων, σὸν δʼ ἔκτανε πιστὸν ἑταῖρον

ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Ποδῆν υἱὸν Ἠετίωνος.

A dark cloud of grief [ akhos ] fell upon Hektor as he heard, and he made his way to the front clad in full armor. Thereon the son of Kronos seized his bright tasseled aegis, and veiled Ida in cloud: he sent forth his lightnings and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα,

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

καὶ τότʼ ἄρα Κρονίδης ἕλετʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν

μαρμαρέην, Ἴδην δὲ κατὰ νεφέεσσι κάλυψεν,

ἀστράψας δὲ μάλα μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, τὴν δὲ τίναξε,

νίκην δὲ Τρώεσσι δίδου, ἐφόβησε δʼ Ἀχαιούς.

The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian, for while keeping his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear on the upper part of the shoulder; a spear thrown by Polydamas had grazed the top of the bone, for Polydamas had come up to him and struck him from close at hand. Then Hektor in close combat struck Leitos son of noble Alektryon in the hand by the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further. He looked about him in dismay, knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle with the Trojans. While Hektor was in pursuit of Leitos, Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple; but the spear broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud. Hektor then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deukalion as he was standing on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Koiranos, a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had come with him from Lyktos. Idomeneus had left the ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Koiranos had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore brought life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hektor. For Hektor hit him on the jaw under the ear; the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground. Meriones gathered them up from the ground and took them into his own hands, then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on, till you get back to the ships, for you must see that the day is no longer ours."

πρῶτος Πηνέλεως Βοιώτιος ἦρχε φόβοιο.

βλῆτο γὰρ ὦμον δουρὶ πρόσω τετραμμένος αἰεὶ

ἄκρον ἐπιλίγδην· γράψεν δέ οἱ ὀστέον ἄχρις

αἰχμὴ Πουλυδάμαντος· ὃ γάρ ῥʼ ἔβαλε σχεδὸν ἐλθών.

Λήϊτον αὖθʼ Ἕκτωρ σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ

υἱὸν Ἀλεκτρυόνος μεγαθύμου, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης·

τρέσσε δὲ παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἔλπετο θυμῷ

ἔγχος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μαχήσεσθαι Τρώεσσιν.

Ἕκτορα δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς μετὰ Λήϊτον ὁρμηθέντα

βεβλήκει θώρηκα κατὰ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν·

ἐν καυλῷ δʼ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ, τοὶ δὲ βόησαν

Τρῶες· ὃ δʼ Ἰδομενῆος ἀκόντισε Δευκαλίδαο

δίφρῳ ἐφεσταότος· τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀπὸ τυτθὸν ἅμαρτεν·

αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόναο ὀπάονά θʼ ἡνίοχόν τε

Κοίρανον, ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Λύκτου ἐϋκτιμένης ἕπετʼ αὐτῷ·

πεζὸς γὰρ τὰ πρῶτα λιπὼν νέας ἀμφιελίσσας

ἤλυθε, καί κε Τρωσὶ μέγα κράτος ἐγγυάλιξεν,

εἰ μὴ Κοίρανος ὦκα ποδώκεας ἤλασεν ἵππους·

καὶ τῷ μὲν φάος ἦλθεν, ἄμυνε δὲ νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

αὐτὸς δʼ ὤλεσε θυμὸν ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο·

τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρʼ ὀδόντας

ὦσε δόρυ πρυμνόν, διὰ δὲ γλῶσσαν τάμε μέσσην.

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία χεῦεν ἔραζε.

καὶ τά γε Μηριόνης ἔλαβεν χείρεσσι φίλῃσι

κύψας ἐκ πεδίοιο, καὶ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα·

μάστιε νῦν εἷός κε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκηαι·

γιγνώσκεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι κάρτος Ἀχαιῶν.

On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear had taken hold upon him.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· δὴ γὰρ δέος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

Ajax and Menelaos noted how Zeus had turned the scale in favor of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak. "Alas," said he, "even a fool may see that father Zeus is helping the Trojans. All their weapons strike home; no matter whether it be a brave man or a coward that hurls them, Zeus speeds all alike, whereas ours fall each one of them without effect. What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing the body, and our return to the joy of our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards; for they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands of Hektor, and that he will fling himself upon our ships. I wish that some one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once, for I do not think he can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen. But I can see not a man among the Achaeans to send, for they and their chariots are alike hidden in darkness. O father Zeus, lift this cloud from over the sons of the Achaeans; make heaven serene, and let us see; if you will that we perish, let us fall at any rate by daylight."

οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Αἴαντα μεγαλήτορα καὶ Μενέλαον

Ζεύς, ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσι δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

ὢ πόποι ἤδη μέν κε καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστι

γνοίη ὅτι Τρώεσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἀρήγει.

τῶν μὲν γὰρ πάντων βέλεʼ ἅπτεται ὅς τις ἀφήῃ

ἢ κακὸς ἢ ἀγαθός· Ζεὺς δʼ ἔμπης πάντʼ ἰθύνει·

ἡμῖν δʼ αὔτως πᾶσιν ἐτώσια πίπτει ἔραζε.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,

ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

χάρμα φίλοις ἑτάροισι γενώμεθα νοστήσαντες,

οἵ που δεῦρʼ ὁρόωντες ἀκηχέδατʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτι φασὶν

Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους

σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.

εἴη δʼ ὅς τις ἑταῖρος ἀπαγγείλειε τάχιστα

Πηλεΐδῃ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ὀΐομαι οὐδὲ πεπύσθαι

λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.

ἀλλʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν τοιοῦτον Ἀχαιῶν·

ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχονται ὁμῶς αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀλλὰ σὺ ῥῦσαι ὑπʼ ἠέρος υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,

ποίησον δʼ αἴθρην, δὸς δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι·

ἐν δὲ φάει καὶ ὄλεσσον, ἐπεί νύ τοι εὔαδεν οὕτως.

Father Zeus heard him and had compassion upon his tears. Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness, so that the sun shone out and all the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to Menelaos, "Look, Menelaos, and if Antilokhos son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen."

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἠέρα μὲν σκέδασεν καὶ ἀπῶσεν ὀμίχλην,